Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Farmerboy16]

Yep, most dairy breeds are seasonal breeders. Except for Nigerian Dwarves and their crosses. They cycle all year round (though the drive to breed is strongest in the fall, so fertility is best then. NDs are considered a dairy breed, since they can be exceptional milkers if bred for milk production.

Thanks for the info. I rather have bigger size goats than the NDs, as I don't have to worry as much with the bigger breeds, as they are in the pasture where coyotes/stray dogs/foxes might kill the the smaller breeds.

Farmer, it may be best for your goat to wait till fall for a breeding.   Let her get acclimated to her new home and you this summer. 

If her previous owner has not tested her you may want to consider having her tested for CL, CAE, Johne’s, TB and Brucellosis.    CL is best found if her previous owner tested her whole herd cause it's a harder one to test for... I hear not all that accurate.   I have to do the same with all my goats this spring prior to breeding.  TB and Brucellosis I heard can be transferred to humans in milk, but don't quote me on that as I'm still trying to research it. 

Thanks, I had cleaned out my 8x10 old turkey coop for the goats, and need to move it by the cowshed before I can get her home. My neighbor got her stock from a closed herd, and I have cared for them before and drank their milk without any issues. She takes very good care of her goats, and makes wonderful soaps out of them.

 

[naglady]

I use cardboard box with wholes or carrier, i like using box better, because you can toss when you get them home and no mess to clean ,

raz that is a pretty cool egg

 

[Totalcolour]

I use cardboard box with wholes or carrier, i like using box better, because you can toss when you get them home and no mess to clean ,

raz that is a pretty cool egg

For a short trip, a used woven feed bag works well, tied at the top. The bird stays calm and the feed bags are tossed afterwards.

RAZ
cool egg!

 

[NovaAman]

Hi there again! I have a quick question, that may seem odd.

I had to get rid of my rooster. I had named him Han Solo, and he is missed, but he turned out to be very aggressive, and we could not get him to calm down enough that we could keep him. He has a new home, and is actually very happy there. He seems to be very mellow when he does not have hens around him.

Anyway, we are getting another rooster from someone very nearby. I think it is about a 15 minute drive, so that is the longest the rooster will be in the vehicle. I am wondering how I should transport him? I do not have a carrier, but I have heard that using a cardboard box is okay, especially for short trips. What do you think? Also, is there anything I should know about introducing him to my hens?

You want to quarantine him AWAY from your hens for 3-4 weeks. THEN introduce him in to the flock by putting him in with, but separated by chicken wire divide, so they can see each other, get used to him, then take the wire fence away one night and put them in to roost together. OR take a hen and her and him together, but NOT together for several days, then together completely. Use a chicken wire fence to separate. Then after a week or two put them both together in with the rest of the flock at night time.

If you can fit a larger dog crate into the coop, you could quarantine him for the first few weeks, and then put him in with the girls when you know he's good to go, but put him in the dog crate. Then he can see the girls, and they can see him, get used to each other for a few days, then take the crate out one night and put him on the roost with them so they wake up all together.

 

[RaZ]

Tossing those good materials, eh?

You can compost the cardboard box or even fill it with soil and compost for a temporary planter or composter.
The woven bag can be filled with more chicken poo, soil and compost. Soak the bag in a 5 gallon bucket and you get compost tea.

 

[naglady]

Tossing those good materials, eh?

You can compost the cardboard box or even fill it with soil and compost for a temporary planter or composter.
The woven bag can be filled with more chicken poo, soil and compost. Soak the bag in a 5 gallon bucket and you get compost tea.

good ideas, i have thrown my boxes in the compost pile, but really like the idea of growing in them..

 

[ladyrsanti]

I cover my worm bin with cardboard to keep in the moisture, over layers of dirt and leaves. They love it and by the time it gets to the bottom, it's completely disappeared. Most of it gets recycled though (Kent Co. has a good recycle program) - except small boxes get reused as shipping containers for my Etsy shop and for the cat that sits and sleeps in front of the aquarium, of course.

 

[Stacykins]

I cover my worm bin with cardboard to keep in the moisture, over layers of dirt and leaves. They love it and by the time it gets to the bottom, it's completely disappeared. Most of it gets recycled though (Kent Co. has a good recycle program) - except small boxes get reused as shipping containers for my Etsy shop and for the cat that sits and sleeps in front of the aquarium, of course.

Your kitty is so pretty! I love her flame pointing. I have a rescued shorthaired flame pointed kitty who lives up to her likely Meezer heritage! She is noisy and affectionate!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by kimmie6067
Unfortunately probably not Sometimes if it's a hairline crack it can be sealed if you catch it quick, but anything bigger and well, you know Has to do with the shell not being able to maintain the proper moisture.

Quote:Originally Posted by sweetpea409
Only thing i have to add to the above advice is to be very watchful of him when you do introduce him to the hens, to see how he behaves. I've seen some that are gentle babies and some are small terrorists..... Watch your hen's behavior to see if they are suddenly shy or skittish, and see that their crops are still full at night and that they are not afraid of the new guy. Lucky guy, to get a chance at a new home. Triple check all over for lice! If you are an ivermectin treater i'd go ahead and treat him in advance to insure he's not bringing any worms or lice into the flock. Pics???

 

[NovaAman]

Holy Moley! It's been 13 hours since a post was made, and I am beating everyone this morn... I would say the coffee is on, but it is not. I am going to bed. Just got home from work, wasn't a bad night, but people sure need to learn to clean in front of their mailboxes, I hate tossing papers... Oh well.

Anyway, there is a lady that is interested in true Aracauna (SP?) hatching eggs.. Does anyone ship from here? (Stacy? heehee) If yes, I'll pass info on so you can settle it between yourselves.